Activities marking the opening of the 2026 legal year of the Enugu State Judiciary were disrupted on Monday as protesters stormed the premises of the Enugu State High Court, demanding the release of a detained Labour Party lawmaker, Barr. Bright Emeka Ngene.
The protest took place at the High Court complex where the judiciary was holding its annual legal year opening ceremony. The demonstrators, drawn from the Labour Party and civil rights groups, carried placards bearing inscriptions such as “NBA save your member from political imprisonment,” “Free Barr. Bright Ngene,” “Injustice to one lawyer is injustice to all lawyers,” and “Chief Judge, Enugu State must not stall Bright Ngene case.”
Speaking to journalists during the protest, the Chairman of the Labour Party in Enugu State, Dr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo, described Ngene’s continued detention as an injustice to humanity and a direct affront to the will of the people.
According to him, “I am here in solidarity with this group and my party. Injustice to one is injustice to all. What they are doing to Bright Ngene is an injustice to humanity. Whatever the problem is should not be the reason to deny this young man the mandate freely given to him by the people of Enugu South Urban.
“Enough is enough. Bright Ngene should be released and allowed to enjoy his mandate even if it is for 24 hours. The Labour Party won the election fair and square. I see no reason why this young man should be behind bars. Governor Peter Mbah, you know what to do. We urge you to release this man and allow him enjoy the mandate he got from the people.”
Also speaking, the leader of the protesters, Hon. John Chukwuemeka Ewoh, said he was a co-accused with Ngene but had since been discharged and acquitted.
“I was sentenced alongside Barr. Bright Emeka Ngene on June 28, 2024. By the special grace of God, my case was determined on September 23, 2024, and I was discharged and acquitted. That is why I am here talking to the press,” he said.
Ewoh lamented Ngene’s prolonged incarceration, noting that the lawmaker won the Enugu South Urban constituency seat in the 2023 general election and was again declared winner in a rerun election held in August 2025 while still in detention.
“This means the mandate of the people for Bright Emeka Ngene remains valid and intact. The people have made their choice, but his voice cannot be heard because he has continued to be incarcerated,” he added.
Another protester, Kachukwu Benedict, accused judicial officers of deliberately stalling the case.
“Over the past two years, judicial officers have tactically been recusing themselves. Justice A. Ajah recused himself on the day of judgment. The case was transferred to Justice Olaedo, and the same thing happened. This is not justice. We are asking that this case be dispensed with so it can proceed to the Court of Appeal,” he said.
The protesters called on the Nigerian Bar Association, the Enugu State Judiciary, and the Enugu State Government to urgently intervene to secure Ngene’s release or ensure the speedy conclusion of his trial.
